Attorney Advisor Position
ACUS is currently seeking to hire an experienced Attorney Advisor at the GS 12, GS-13 or GS-14 levels, depending on relevant work experience. ACUS encourages lawyers who may be interested in serving as an attorney advisor to send: (1) a brief letter expressing their interest and identifying the approximate date on which they would be available to start, (2) a résumé or curriculum vitae, (3) an official or unofficial transcript, and (4) a writing sample.
As described in the “Qualifications” section below, the ideal candidate would have more than one year of experience working as an attorney in a setting requiring them to independently manage a portfolio of projects and possess a demonstrated academic or professional background in administrative law and regulatory procedure.
Applications should be addressed to Jeremy Graboyes, Acting Research Director, and emailed to info@acus.gov.
About the Conference
The Conference is an independent federal agency within the executive branch whose statutory mission is to identify ways to improve the procedures by which federal agencies protect the public interest and determine the rights, privileges, and obligations of private persons. Through the Assembly, which consists of up to 101 members from the public and private sectors, ACUS has issued hundreds of recommendations to federal agencies, the President, Congress, and the Judicial Conference of the United States to improve the efficiency, adequacy, and fairness of rulemaking, adjudication, and other administrative processes. Under the direction of a Senate-confirmed Chair, ACUS also assists individual agencies in improving administrative programs; undertakes studies and publishes sourcebooks of enormous value both to the government and public; convenes public forums, working groups, and interagency roundtables; and provides nonpartisan advice to other agencies and Congress. visit www.acus.gov.
Job Duties
ACUS attorney advisors facilitate the work of Conference members in developing, considering, and adopting recommendations to improve federal agency rulemaking, adjudication, administration and management, judicial review of agency action, and other related matters. Attorney advisors also oversee initiatives under the direction of the ACUS Chair, including publication of studies and sourcebooks and organizing meetings and events.
The duties associated with the position include identifying appropriate subjects for reports and recommendations through extensive research and analysis; supporting outside consultants, typically distinguished academics in law and related disciplines, who prepare reports for ACUS; drafting requests for proposals, consultant contracts, educational and communications materials, memoranda, and reports; planning public forums, working groups, and interagency roundtables; presenting research findings to agency leadership and Conference members; speaking at meetings of the Conference, other federal agencies, professional associations, and law schools about the Conference’s work; and promoting and supporting implementation of the Conference’s recommendations.
Successful attorney advisors are adept at legal research, professional writing, analytical thinking, clear communication, and public engagement and are comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously, taking initiative, and collaborating with colleagues and agency leadership.
Qualifications
The Conference seeks to hire attorneys with strong legal research and writing skills who have an interest in administrative law. Though the only formal requirement is that the applicant either possess or be in the process of obtaining a law degree, the Conference is interested in hiring attorneys who have acquired professional experience in administrative law and regulatory policymaking, including prior work at a federal agency, judicial clerkship, law firm, nonprofit or public interest organization, corporation, university, think tank, or other organization.
The Conference is especially interested in candidates who have significant prior experience with federal agency rulemaking and regulation, for example:
- The development and issuance of regulations or guidance documents;
- Preparing or reviewing regulatory analyses;
- Planning or conducting retrospective review of agency rules;
- Preparing comments on proposed rules on behalf of an organization;
- Engaging with stakeholders as part of an agency rulemaking process;
- Representing the government or a private party in litigation involving agency rules; or
- Advising an agency, judge, member of Congress, or organization on matters related to federal agency rulemaking and regulation.
The Conference is also especially interested in hiring attorneys who have supervisory experience and who have worked in a setting requiring them to act independently in balancing a variety of projects and carrying out their duties with minimal higher-level oversight.
Compensation
The attorney advisor will be compensated as a GS-12, GS-13 or GS-14 depending on relevant work experience . Information on compensation under the 2022 General Schedule (GS) can be found at the website of the Office of Personnel Management (www.opm.gov). Compensation will also include federal health, retirement, and leave benefits.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement and Telework Status
Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement.